Programs
Find & Compare Programs
Doctor of Philosophy in Education and Master of Public Policy Dual Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Education and Master of Public Policy Dual Degree

This program is designed for aspiring research scholars interested in obtaining both a Master of Public Policy and a Doctor of Philosophy in Education.

Prepare to apply in-depth knowledge of policy processes, content and analysis to critical questions of contemporary education policy.

Program Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy in Education and Master of Public Policy dual degree will prepare you for a career in educational policy by providing rigorous training in education, policy research and analysis.

Course of Study

The first academic year is devoted to MPP classes, the second to PhD classes, the third to completion of the MPP practicum, the fourth to the PhD qualifying exam and the fifth to the PhD dissertation. You must complete 84 units (48 from the PhD in Education and 36 from the Master of Public Policy).

As a student in the dual degree program, you are not required to take the 12-unit cognate block and will only take 12 of the 15 required units for the research block from the PhD program as the scope of these block requirements are interdisciplinary or research-oriented and naturally suited to combine with the MPP. For more information on the MPP requirements for the dual degree, view the full list of required MPP courses.

Application Process

You can enter this program in one of two ways:

(1) Apply simultaneously to both programs (pay one application fee and then apply for a USC Graduate Admission fee waiver for the second application fee, noting that you are applying for a dual degree) and state your intent on each application to be admitted to the dual degree program.

(2) Apply to the PhD during the first semester as an MPP student. If admission is approved by each school, you will be admitted to the dual degree program.

Learn more

PhD/MPP Dual Degree

PhD in Education

Master of Public Policy

USC Catalogue

Program Details

Degree Awarded

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Public Policy (MPP)

Estimated Length

5 years

Units

Program Cost

Students pay USC tuition during year 1, and then tuition and stipend are funded by an assistantship for years 2-5

Modality

On Campus

Next Deadline

December 1, 2025

Take the Next Step

The PhD in Education program application will reopen August 1, 2025 for an August 2026 start.
Learn more

Faculty

Our professors are experienced practitioners who are committed to fostering your professional growth both inside and outside the classroom.

Stephen J. Aguilar

Associate Professor of Education

Educational Psychology

Expertise

Learning Analytics • EdTech & Generative AI • Digital Equity • Educational Data Science • Motivation & Self-Regulation

Dwuana Bradley

Assistant Professor of Education

Higher Education

Expertise

Critical Education Policy • Higher Ed • K–12

Patricia Burch

Professor of Education
Co-director of CEPEG

K-12 Education Policy

Expertise

Organizational and Institutional Change • Education Policy • Intersection of Public and Private Partnerships in Education • Digital Instruction • Policy Implementation and Impact • Equity and Quality in Public School Instruction

Darnell Cole

Professor of Education
Co-director of the Center for Education, Identity and Social Justice

Higher Education

Expertise

Race/ Ethnicity, Diversity, Student-Faculty Interactions, Learning, and Student Experiences within K12 and Higher Education Environments.

Yasemin Copur-Gencturk

Associate Professor of Education
Katzman/Ernst Chair for Educational Entrepreneurship, Technology and Innovation

Teacher Education

Expertise

knowledge for teaching mathematics, teacher knowledge, mathematics education, mathematics teacher education, professional development, teacher learning.

Bradley Ermeling

Adjunct Assistant Professor

Omar Ezzeldine

Adjunct Professor

Kimberly Ferrario

Teaching Professor of Education

Teacher Education

Gregory Franklin

Professor of Clinical Education

K-12 Education Policy

Expertise

Leadership • Policy • Accountability

Shaun Harper

University Professor
Provost Professor of Education, Business, and Public Policy
Clifford and Betty Allen Chair in Urban Leadership
USC Race and Equity Center Founder and Chief Research Scientist

Higher Education

Expertise

Race in K-12 • Higher Education, and Corporate Contexts • Urban Education • Boys and Men of Color • College Student Success • Intercollegiate Athletics

Kim Hirabayashi

Professor of Clinical Education

Educational Psychology

Mary Helen Immordino-Yang

Fahmy and Donna Attallah Chair in Humanistic Psychology
Director, USC Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning and Education (candle.usc.edu)
Professor of Education, Psychology & Neuroscience
Brain & Creativity Institute; Rossier School of Education University of Southern California Member, U.S. National Academy of Education

Educational Psychology

Expertise

Neuroscience of Learning • Creativity • Culture • Morality and Social Interaction

Royel M. Johnson, PhD

Associate Professor & Director

Higher Education

Expertise

Racial Equity • Education Access • Student Success • Education Policy • Carcerality in Education • Foster Care • Juvenile Justice

Adrianna Kezar

Dean's Professor of Leadership
Wilbur-Kieffer Professor of Higher Education
Director Pullias Center for Higher Education

Higher Education

Expertise

Higher Education • Leadership • Diversity

Esther Chihye Kim

Associate Teaching Professor of Education

Expertise

Research Methodology • Higher Education • Inequalities

Cathy Krop

Professor of Clinical Education

K-12 Education Policy

Nicole M.G. Maccalla, PhD

Part-Time Senior Lecturer

Expertise

Research • Evaluation

Julie Marsh

Professor of Education
Co-director of CEPEG

K-12 Education Policy

Expertise

K-12 Education Policy and Governance • Accountability • Teacher Incentive Programs • Data-Driven Reforms • School District Reform • School Choice • Equity-Oriented Reforms • Literacy Coaching

Tatiana Melguizo

Professor of Education, In Memoriam 1968 - 2024

Higher Education

Expertise

Higher Education • Finance • Affirmative Action • Community Colleges • College trajectories of students of color, Program Evaluation

Eugenia Mora-Flores

Professor of Clinical Education, Assistant Dean of Teacher Education

Teacher Education

Expertise

Multilingual Learners • Bilingual Education • Language and Literacy Development TK-12 • Educational Rights for English Learners • Latino Culture in Schools • English Language Development and Instruction • Adolescent Literacy • writing Instruction and Learning

Alison Keller Muraszewski

Adjunct Associate Professor

Teacher Education

Harry O'Neil

Professor of Education

Educational Psychology

John Pascarella, III

Professor of Clinical Education

Teacher Education

Expertise

Teacher Education • Racial Equity • Digital Media Literacies • Instructional Leadership • Critical Pedagogy • Arts-Based Methods to HIV/AIDS Education

Erika A. Patall

Professor of Education and Psychology

Educational Psychology

Expertise

Motivation • Autonomy Support • Choice Provision • Student Agency • Need Support • Education Practices • Research Synthesis • Meta-Analysis

Lawrence O. Picus

Richard T. Cooper and Mary Catherine Cooper Chair in Public School Administration
Professor of Education Finance and Policy
Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs

K-12 Education Policy

Expertise

Public Financing of Schools

Morgan Polikoff

Professor of Education

K-12 Education Policy

Expertise

K-12 Education Policy • Curriculum • Standards-based Reform • Assessment Policy • Alignment • Survey Research • Quantitative Methods • COVID and Education